Review: Deadman #6

And
here I was hoping to a conclusion to this rambling mess of a narrative, but
apparently, Neal Adams couldn’t fit it all into six issues. So there is now a
Book Two, which promises to feature Batman. But given that the Caped Crusader
is on the cover of this issue, his
implied appearance is a bit of a tease.

Hoowever, it
explains why the dialogue is so aimless, as people debate in fragmented
sentences without saying anything. And as for our other players – Spectre,
Demon, Zatanna, Doctor Fate, and Phantom Stranger – well they’re just left out
in the cold – literally.

This series
is suitably dead on its feet. The artwork is fabulous, but the overall premise
seems to be, “How can we fit all our supernatural super-heroes into a single
story?” For six issues we’ve seen Boston Brand wallow in angst over being
trapped between life and death, and a puppet to the mystical forces of Nanda
Parbat. Enough already. Would that he and his co-stars all have a common enemy
to battle.

I appreciate
Neal Adams work as much as the next guy. I think he is perhaps one of the most
influential comic book artists the industry has ever seen. However, when it
comes to writing, the man needs help, because when left to his own devices, the
story and dialogue simply don’t measure up to the expected stature.